Mechanical stoker.



Nl. 803,777. PATENTBD Nov. '7, 1905. E. MQGONNBLL.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

APPLIGATIONPILBD DBO. zz, 1904 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

S5 A m C Q NK 3 W/TNESSES: NVENTUI? l awjwmbu mmf/f #MM5 www Il TTU/MUGSPATENTED NOV. 7, 1905.

E. MUGONNBLL.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 22, 1004 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

WITNESSES:

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. A Tron/m8 PATENTED NOV. '7, 1905.

E. MOGONNELL.

MBCHANIGAL STOKER.

ArrLloATrox FILED 1320.22. 1904 4 SHEETS-'SHEET 3.

NVEII T03 170.803,777. PATBNTED Nov.7,19o5.

- E. MUGQNNBLL.

MECHANICAL sToKER.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 22, 1904 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES: l 4

,4T OBI/[71S ANDREW. sA GRAHAM co. mwumoanmiins. msn Mmm, D. c,

ELLIGOTT MCCONNLL, OF EASTGN, MARYLAND.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1905.

Application filed December 22, 1904. Serial No. 237,877.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, ELLIooTT MoCoNNELL, a citizen of the United States,residing atEaston, county of Talbot, and State of Maryland, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Mechanical Stokers, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to mechanical stokers, and particularly tomechanical stokers for locomotives.

The object of my invention is to design a stolzer that may besuccessfully applied to locomotives. For some years mechanical stokershave been more or less successfully used in connection with stationaryboilers, but stokers built on the same principle when applied to locomotives have utterly failed to do the work required of them.

My invention consists of the general oonstruction and arrangement offire-box, grate, and fuel-retort hereinafter set out, and also incertain details of construction and arrangement also fully disclosed.

While my invention is primarily intended for application to locomotives,it may be adapted to stationary boilers. The invention, therefore, isnot restricted to any particular use nor to the specific details ofconstruction in which I prefer to embody the invention.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, partly diagrammatic, of alocomotive with my invention applied. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. Litisalongitudinal section through the fire-box. Fig. 5 is alongitudinalsection similar to Fig. 4, showing a modified form of grate. Fig. 6 isan end view of the modified construction. Fig. 7 is a side elevation ofthe modified construction. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section through thefuel-retort.

a is the fire-box of the locomotive; b, the boiler; c, the regularfire-door. Below the regular fire-door is a long narrow opening orfire-door d. This fire-door extends substantially along the whole widthof the fire-box.

The fuel-retort may be composed of a shell or casing e, having fiangesf, by means of which the retort is bolted to the fire-box above andbelow there-door CZ. The longitudinal` opening between the flanged endsof the cas.

ing is of the same widthas the re-door, and when the retort is bolted tothe irebox-the said opening registers with the fire-door d. The ends ofthe casing are closed.

g is a square shaft extending through the fuel-retort and whose centerline is coincident with the axis of the retort. Upon this shaft isthreaded a helical screw conveyer, having a right-hand thread and aleft-hand thread j. One end of the conveyer-shaft projects beyond thecasing-head and beyond the end of the fire-box and is provided with awormwheel m.

Z is a bearing on the side of the fire-box for the end of the shaft g. f

7c is a hopper of any suitable style-such, for instance, as that shownin my Patent No. 711,668, dated October 2l, NO2-said hopper beingsecured to the top of the retort and communicating with an appropriateopening in the top of the retort.

0 isashaft turning in bearings u p, secured to one side of the re-box,said shaft extending substantially the length of the [ire-box.

n is a worm on the front end of the shaft o, Said worm engaging theworm-wheel m.

g is a double engine secured to the forward part of the fire-box on theiiremans side thereof. The pistons of the engine actuate the shaft 0,the latter through worm n, and wormwheel m driving the shaft g. Therebythe screw conveyer is rotated. Fuel fed into the hopper will be carriedlongitudinally within the conveyer toward one or the other end of theretort and be introduced into and distributed along the front of thelire-box over the grate r.

The grate 'r is of peculiar construction and operation, being formed ofa number of series of grate-sections, the grate-sections of each seriesbeing hinged together and forming an endless sprocketchain extendingaround sprocket-rollers u o, secured to shafts w rc, respectively,at-the rear and front of the tire-box, respectively. The shafts w :cturn in bearings 10 on the outside of the fire-box. Secured to the shaftw is a worm-wheel y, meshing with a worm a on the rear end of the shaft0. As the shaft 0 is rotated by the engine Q, worm a turns theworm-wheel y and shaft a', thereby causing the grate to travel withinthe fire-box and carry the fuel forwardly, the fuel being consumed as ittravels forwardly and the spent fuel and ashes being discharged throughthe interstices of the grate and at the forward end of the tire-box atthe point where the grate-bars turn about IOO the shaft at thebeginning' of their return.

movement. Itis evident that the depth of the fire depends upon thespeed'of grate travel as compared with the quantity 'of fuely deliveredfrom the retort-7,'. c., the faster the travel the thinner theiire, andconversely. As the conveyer and grate are driven from a commondriving-shaft it is apparent that the relation between the speed ofrotation of the conveyer and the speed of travel of grate will beconstant. It is not, however, anfessential feature of the invention thatthe grate and conveyer shall be driven in unison or from a commondriving-shaft.

The shaft fr for driving the traveling grate is preferably square incross-section, this being the simplest way of securingthesprocketrollers c thereon so as to rotate therewith while permitting theshaft to be simply withdrawn longitudinally to enable the entiremachinery to he dismantled.

11 is an L-shaped coking-plate secured to theinsideof the {ire-boximmediately beneath the fire-door Z and overhanging the sprocketroller uand the space between the sprocketroller u and the front of the{ire-box.

rI`he advantages of the foregoing construction are the perfect lateraldistribution of the fuel along the rear of the {ire-box due to thearrangement and construction of the fuelretort and conveyer and theperfect distribution of the fuel longitudinally due to the travel of thegrate forwardly from the. point of introduction. The means foraccurately regulating the amountof fuel used, the length of time itremains on the grate, and the depth of the [ire also constitute valuablefeatures of the invention. y

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I have shown a modification in which instead of atraveling grate an inclined grate is provided. rl`his grate is inclineddownwardly from the fire-door to the rear of the grate. It is notnecessary that the grate should be inclined as much to the horizontal astherein shown. A much less degree of slant may be found efficient; butit may be found advisable in certain cases to give the grates aconsiderable slant, in which event I prefer to employhorizontally-disposed gratebars 20, arranged one below the other in stepfashion, each grate-bar overhanging the one below it. The grate-bars aresecured to shafts 2l, supported in racks or bearing-bars Q2, secured tothe inner side walls of the fire-box. 28 is a dum p-grate at the extremefront of the fire-box. I prefer to use in connection with the inclinedconveyer precisely the same arrangement and construction of li re-door,fuelretort, screw conveyer, and driving mechanism thatI employ inconnection with the travcling grate. The shaft g, however, projectsbeyond the side of the fire-box opposite the side to which the driving4mechanismfisA secured. To thisend of the shaft g is :secured aneccentric 24, embraced by a -strap 25, to

which is secured a rod 26, pivotally connected With lever 27, secured toa shaft 28, held in bearing :29 on 'the mud-ring of the fire-box.Secured to a shaft '28 is an arm 30, engaging a shaker-bar 81, similarto those ordinarily used. As coal is fed into the hopper and thencethrough the retort to the fire-box, as hereinbefore described, the coalis distributed evenly along the rear of the fire-box. The inclination ofthe grates eects the desired longitudinal distribution of the fuel. Thestepped arrangcmentof grate-bars also facilitates the forward feed ofthe fuel, as the induced blast enters laterally between the grates, asshown by thearrows in Fig. 5, tending to blow the fuelA forwardly towardthe front of the grate. The grate-shaking mechanism also assists in theforward feed of the fuel, besides keeping the fire clean.

In both forms of the present invention the following advantagesmay beenumerated: A perfect longitudinal as well as lateral distribution ofthe fuel is effected. The entire apparatus is outside the cab. It isaccessible for examination and repair. The regular liredoor is leftundisturbed and unobstructed, `enabling the slice-bar and clinker-hookto be used when desired and leaving the regular door always available inemergencies for handfiring. The fire-door being normally closed, thewell-known deleterious effects produced by an open fire-door upon flues,flue-sheets, and all fire-box fittings are entirely avoided. It shouldbe added that the modern type of locomotive is so large that the laborof manually firing them almost exceeds human strength and endurance, anda successful power-Stoker is almost indispensable.

While I have shown'and ordinarily prefer a fuel-retort comprising aVhelical screw conveyer, my yinvention is not limited to the use of thisform of feeding mechanism, as it may be desirable under certainconditions, particularly when a small size of anthracite is employed asfuel, to use some other known type of feeding mechanism.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desiretoprotect by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with the boiler, the fire-box having a tire-dooralong the rear of the {ire-box, of a fuel-retort along the rear of andoutside the fire-box and communicating along its length with thefire-door, means to introduce fuel to the retort, and a right-handfeed-screw and a left-hand feed-screw within the retort to distributethe fuel along the rear of the grate, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the boiler, the ire-boX having the fire-dooralong the rear of .the fire-box, of a fuel-retort along the rear of andoutside the iire-boxiand,.communicating along its length with thefire-door, means .for introducing fuel tothe -central portion of theretort, a right-handfeed-screw within the re- IOO tort at one endthereof and a left-hand feedscrew within the retort at the other endthereof, whereby the fuel is conveyed from' the central portion of theretort toward the opposite ends thereof and distributed along the rearof the grate, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the boiler and the lire-box, a grate within thefire-box. means to cause said grate to travel longitudinally of thefire-box, a fuel-retort at the rear of and extending' transversely` ofthe tire-box and grate and above the level of the grate, means tointroduce fuel to the retort, a right-hand feed-screw and a left-handfeed-screw within the retort for distributing the fuel along the rearportion of thegrate, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the boiler and the lire-box, a grate within thefire-box, means to cause said grate to travel longitudinally of thelire-box, a fuel-retort at the rear of and extending transversely of thefire-box and grate and above the level of the grate, means to introducefuel to the central portion of the retort, a right-hand feed-screwwithin the retort at one end thereof and a left-hand feedscrew withinthe retort at the other end thereof, whereby the fuel is conveyed fromthe central portion of the retort toward the opposite ends thereof anddistributed along the rear portion of the grate, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination, with the boiler, the fire-box having the fire-dooralong the rear of the lire-box, of a fuel-retort along the rear of andoutside the fire-box and communicating along its length with thefire-door, means for introducing fuel to the retort, a shaft within theretort, a right-hand feed-screw and a lefthand feed-screw on the shaft,and means to turn the shaft, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the boiler, the fire-box having the lire-dooralong the rear of the fire-box, of a fuel-retort along the rear of andoutside of the fire-box and communicating along its length with thelire-door, means for introducing fuel to the central portion of theretort, a shaft within the retort, a right-hand feed-screw on one end ofthe shaft, a left-hand feed-screw on the other end of the shaft, andmeans to turn the shaft.

7. The combination, with the boiler, the fire-box having the fire-dooralong the rear of the fire-box, of a fuel-retort along the rear of andoutside the fire-box and communicating along its length with thevfire-door, means for introducing fuel to the retort, a right-handfeed-screw and a left-hand feed-screw on the shaft., whereby, when theshaft turns, the

screws feed and distribute the fuel along the. rear end of the fire-box`means to turn the shaft and means to distribute the fuel longitudinallywithin the fire-box, substantially as described.

8. The combination, With the boiler, the

lire-box having the fire-door'along the rear of the fire-box, of afuel-retort along the rear of and outside the. lire-box andcommunicating along its length with the fire-door, means for introducingfuel to the retort, a right-hand feed-screw and a left-hand feed-screwwithin the retort, a traveling grate within the rebox, and means to turnthe feed-screws and move the grate, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the boiler, the traveling grate, andthefire-box having a liredoor along the rear of the fire-box and abovethe level of and of substantially the width of the grate, a fuel-retortextending along' the fire-door, means for introducing fuel to thecentral portion of the retort, a right-hand feed-screw within the retortat one end thereof, a left-hand feed-screw within the retort at theother end thereof, and means to turn the feed-screws and move the gratelongitudinally of the lire-box.

l0. The combination, with the boiler, the fire-box having the fire-dooralong' the rear of the lire-box, of a fuel-retort along the rear of andoutside the fire-box and communicating along its length with thetire-door, means for introducing fuel to the retort,' a shaft within theretort, a right-hand feed-screw and a lefthand feed-screw on the shaft,shafts extending laterally of the fire-box, an endless grate extending,about the last-named shafts, and means to drive one of the grate-shaftsandthe screw-shaft substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the boiler, the fire-box having the fire-dooralong the rear of the fire-box, of a fuel-retort along' the rear of andoutside of the lire-box and communicating along its length with thefire-door, means for introducing fuel to the central portion of theretort, a shaft within the retort, a righthand feed-screw on one end ofthe shaft, a left-hand feed-screw on the other end of the shaft, shaftsextending laterally of the {irebox, one'at thefront end, and the otherat the rear end thereof, an endless grate extending' about thelast-named shafts, a main drivingshaft, a motor for actuating the maindrivingshaft, driving connections from the main driving-shaft to thescrew-shaft, and driving connections from the main driving-shaft to oneof the grate-shafts, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with the boiler, the {ire-box having a lire-doorback of the grate, and a grate Within the fire-box, of means to causethe grate to travel longitudinally of the lire-box, the fire-doorextending longitudinally of the rear wall of the fire-box and ofsubstantially the width of the grate, a fuelretort on the exterior ofthe lire-box extending alongside of and communicating with thefire-door, means to introduce fuel to the central portion of the retort,and mechanism Within the retort adapted to convey the fuel in oppositedirections from the central portion of the retort and distribute itlaterally IOO IOS

ITO

along the rear encl of thegrate, substantially 'fire-door, means totransfer the fuel from the as described. retort through the fire-door tothe lire-box 13. The combination, with the boiler, the and distribute itlaterally along the rear end {ire-box having a tire-door back of thegrate; or' the grate, substantially as described. I5

5 and a grate Within the lire-box, of means to In testimony ofWhichinventionl have herecause the grate to travel longitudinalli7 ofthe untoset my hand` at Des Moines, on this 12th re-box, the fire-door extendinglongitucliday of December, 1904.

nally of the rear Wall of the lire-box and of ELLICOTT MCCONN ELL.substantially the Width of the grate, a fuelllitnesses: 10 retort on theexterior or' the lire-box eXtencl- F. T. VAN LIEW,

ing alongside of and communicating with the BLANCHE Bion.

